Karmichael Hunt is free to play for the Queensland Reds but has been fined $10,000 after Rugby Australia completed their investigation into his arrest late last year. It was found Hunt committed a “low-level breach” of RA’s player code of conduct, according to a statement from the governing body, who also issued him a four-match suspension.
Super Rugby: Waratahs on fire as they trounce the Rebels
But the 31-year-old has already served that ban, having voluntarily stood down from all rugby duties since the 30 December incident in Fortitude Valley. It means he is technically available for selection for this weekend’s clash with the Stormers in Cape Town.
Hunt will also be placed on an illicit drug target testing program for 12 months and instructed to undergo any drug treatment and education programs deemed necessary by RA.
However, it remains unclear when – or even if – Hunt will return to training with the Reds. Reports from overseas in recent weeks suggest the triple-code star has been shopped around to European rugby clubs and the Queensland Rugby Union is understood to be heavily reluctant to welcome him back into the fold.
Whether coach Brad Thorn, who has overseen a remarkable turnaround in Queensland’s Super Rugby fortunes this season, is eager to do so is another question entirely.
“Rugby Australia has run this investigation and has determined the penalties announced today,” QRU chief executive Richard Barker said. “The QRU is working with Rugby Australia to understand the implications of today’s announcement for the QRU.”
Hunt was fined $600 in total by a Brisbane court last month after pleading guilty to possessing Xanax and contravening a police direction. Another charge of cocaine possession was dropped due to a lack of evidence.
Hunt was fined $30,000, stripped of the Queensland vice-captaincy, suspended for six weeks and told to undergo counselling after pleading guilty to four counts of cocaine possession in 2015.
“We take all matters of off-field behaviour seriously,” RA CEO Raelene Castle said. “In arriving at today’s outcome, we’ve considered the judgement of the court and all the evidence we had available relating to Karmichael’s arrest, as well as considering the damage that the very public nature of his arrest and the subsequent speculation has inflicted on the game.”
Hunt’s $10,000 fine will be paid to the Australian Rugby Foundation and will be spent on community rugby initiatives.